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More than two dozen people indicted for alleged roles in Twin Ports heroin trafficking

Local, county and federal law enforcement officials today announced the indictment of more than two dozen people for their alleged roles in heroin trafficking in the Twin Ports.

The defendants allegedly "conspired together to distribute heroin throughout the Twin Ports area," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.

U.S. Attorney Gregory Booker announced that 12 people have been indicted on federal charges for their role in the distribution conspiracy. St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin announced that 17 additional people are facing state charges in connection to the distribution conspiracy.

“Today, we turn the tide,” Rubin said.

Authorities said Carlos Nashun Coleman, 33, of Apple Valley, Minn., was the main distributor, allegedly transporting heroin "from Chicago to the Twin Cities and throughout the Twin Ports area where the heroin was further distributed through his network of co-conspirators."

Coleman is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Agencies involved in the investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Duluth, Superior, Hibbing, Hermantown, Virginia and Fond du Lac police departments; and the St. Louis and Carlton county sheriff’s offices.